Which Course Should You Study Abroad? (2026 Guide)

Why Nursing Is the Smartest Course Choice for Nepalese Students in 2026

Nursing appears on every priority skills shortage list across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK — and it has done so consistently for over a decade with no sign of changing. For Nepalese students who are willing to commit to a healthcare career, nursing offers something no other course can match: a near-guaranteed job after graduation, a clear and fast PR pathway, and strong salaries from day one.

In Australia, Registered Nurses earn between AUD 70,000 and AUD 130,000 per year. In New Zealand, nursing sits on the Tier 1 Green List, which means graduates can apply directly for permanent residency through the Residence from Work pathway — without a points test, without a lottery, and without waiting for an invitation. In the UK, the NHS actively recruits internationally trained nurses under the Skilled Worker Visa, with Nepalese graduates eligible to apply immediately after completing their degree.

Country-by-Country Nursing Breakdown

• Australia: Complete a Bachelor of Nursing at a CRICOS-registered institution, register with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), and work during your 485 post-study visa period. Nursing is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), giving you access to the Subclass 189 (independent) and 190 (state-nominated) PR visas. Regional study adds 5 extra points to your PR score.
• New Zealand: Registered Nursing is a Tier 1 Green List occupation. After graduating from a New Zealand university and registering with the Nursing Council of NZ, you can apply directly for Residence from Work — the fastest PR pathway available to any international student in any country in 2026.
• United Kingdom: UK nursing graduates are eligible for the 2-year Graduate Route immediately after graduation. Registered nurses can then transition to the Skilled Worker Visa with NHS or private sector sponsorship. The NHS actively supports international nurse recruitment and the Home Office places nursing on the Shortage Occupation List.
• USA: Nursing graduates on an F-1 visa can use standard OPT (12 months). NCLEX-RN qualification is required to work as a Registered Nurse. While the USA nursing career offers very high salaries (USD 70,000–100,000+), the path to long-term stay through H-1B is uncertain as nursing is not a STEM OPT field.
• India: For Nepalese students, a B.Sc. Nursing from a recognised Indian university (such as AIIMS, JIPMER-affiliated, or private nursing colleges) provides an excellent foundation. Many graduates then pursue a postgraduate nursing degree in Australia or New Zealand — combining affordable first-degree costs in India with a strong PR pathway abroad.

IT & Computer Science — The Highest-Earning Course for Nepalese Graduates

Computer Science and IT degrees deliver something that almost no other course can: the ability to earn in USD, AUD, GBP, or NZD while your degree remains relevant everywhere in the world. An IT graduate from a recognised university — whether in the USA, UK, Australia, or New Zealand — enters a global job market with no geographical limits. Remote work, international contracts, and digital-first employers mean that an IT degree has career value far beyond the country where you study it.

In the USA, IT is a STEM field, which means graduates receive a full 36 months of OPT work authorisation (12 months standard + 24 months STEM extension) — by far the longest post-study work period available in any country for this subject area. Starting salaries in US tech hubs regularly exceed USD 80,000–100,000 for entry-level roles. In Australia, IT professionals appear on the Skilled Occupation List and earn AUD 95,000–150,000+ in cybersecurity and software development. In New Zealand, IT programmers and software engineers are Tier 1 Green List occupations, meaning PR is available through the Residence from Work pathway.

Country-by-Country IT Breakdown

• USA: The single best destination for IT in terms of salary and career ceiling. STEM OPT provides 3 years of work authorisation. Target top-ranked computer science programmes at state universities (University of Texas, UC San Diego, Purdue, etc.) for an outstanding ROI. H-1B lottery is the next step — competitive, but IT professionals have the highest sponsorship rates of any occupation.
• Australia: IT professionals sit firmly on the MLTSSL. Software engineers, cybersecurity analysts, and data scientists all have clear PR pathways. AUD 95,000–150,000+ salaries, combined with a 2–3 year 485 post-study visa, give you substantial time to build your PR points profile.
• New Zealand: IT Programmers and Software Engineers are Tier 1 Green List occupations — the same PR fast-track as nursing. NZD 55,000–85,000 starting salaries with a lower cost of living than Australia make this a compelling option for Nepalese students who want quality of life alongside strong PR prospects.
• United Kingdom: A one-year Masters in Computer Science or Data Science from a UK university — followed by the 2-year Graduate Route — provides a fast, affordable entry into the UK tech industry. London's tech sector is one of the most active in Europe and actively hires internationally trained developers.
• India: BCA, B.Tech (Computer Science), or MCA from strong Indian institutions (IITs, NITs, or well-ranked private universities) is one of the most cost-effective ways to build a foundational IT credential. Indian IT graduates regularly leverage their degree to apply for postgraduate programmes in the UK, Australia, or USA — where their Indian technical background is well respected.

Engineering — Stable, Well-Paid, and Almost Always on the Skills List

Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers are in consistent demand across all five of Admizz Education's promoted destinations. Australia is literally building its infrastructure — from roads and railways to renewable energy projects — and engineers have some of the highest starting salaries of any graduate occupation, regularly exceeding AUD 90,000 per year. In New Zealand, Civil Engineers are a Tier 1 Green List occupation. In the UK, Chartered Engineers are actively sought by major construction and infrastructure firms. In the USA, engineering is a STEM subject with full STEM OPT access.

For Nepalese students from science and mathematics backgrounds, engineering offers something that nursing and IT do not: a degree that is genuinely transferable back to Nepal as well. Civil and structural engineers are in high demand within Nepal itself, meaning that students who choose to return home after their studies still graduate into a strong career. This dual career value — abroad and at home — makes engineering one of the most strategically versatile course choices available.

Country-by-Country Engineering Breakdown

• Australia: Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineers all appear on the MLTSSL. Starting salaries of AUD 80,000–140,000 combined with strong employer demand make Australia the top destination for engineering PR. Regional study provides bonus PR points — study in Adelaide or regional Queensland and you gain 5 additional points toward your skilled migration score.
• New Zealand: Civil Engineers are Tier 1 Green List — the same direct-to-PR pathway as nursing. NZ's ambitious infrastructure programme (roads, housing, water, and renewable energy) means consistent graduate demand. Registration with Engineering New Zealand (ENZ) is required to practice as a Chartered Engineer.
• United Kingdom: The UK's one-year Masters in Engineering (MEng) programmes — particularly at Russell Group universities — are highly respected globally. The 2-year Graduate Route gives you time to seek Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council UK, dramatically increasing your long-term earning potential.
• USA: Engineering is a STEM field with full 36-month OPT authorisation. Starting salaries of USD 70,000–100,000 for Civil and Mechanical Engineers, and significantly higher for Software and Electrical Engineers. The USA also has the world's highest concentration of engineering employers, creating the broadest possible job market.
• India: B.Tech from a well-ranked Indian institution is one of the most respected foundational engineering credentials internationally. Indian engineering graduates consistently perform well in Australia's skills assessments (conducted by Engineers Australia) and in UK postgraduate admissions. The India-first strategy — complete your B.Tech in India, then do a Masters in Australia or the UK — delivers excellent ROI for Nepalese students from cost-sensitive families.

Accounting — The Most Underrated PR Course Nepalese Students Overlook

Ask most Nepalese students which course leads to Australian PR and they will say nursing or IT. Very few mention accounting — and that is exactly why it is such a strong strategic choice. Accounting is consistently listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List, offers starting salaries of AUD 80,000–110,000 per year, and allows graduates to boost their PR points through the Professional Year Programme (PYP) — a structured 44-week work placement programme designed specifically for accounting, IT, and engineering graduates.

The Professional Year Programme is a game-changer for Nepalese accounting graduates in Australia. Completing the PYP adds 5 additional points to your skilled migration points test score — exactly what many applicants need to reach the competitive threshold for a PR invitation. Combined with the standard 5 points for an Australian qualification and further points for work experience, accounting graduates who complete the PYP are often among the most competitive PR applicants in Australia's General Skilled Migration pool.

Country-by-Country Accounting Breakdown

• Australia: General Accountant and Management Accountant both appear on the MLTSSL. Completing a Masters of Accounting from a recognised Australian university, followed by CPA Australia membership and the Professional Year Programme, puts Nepalese graduates on one of the strongest points-based PR pathways available to non-STEM students.
• India: The Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is internationally recognised and highly respected in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Nepalese students who complete CA in India — a challenging but extremely valuable qualification — significantly strengthen their skills assessment for overseas PR applications.
• United Kingdom: ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualifications, widely available at UK universities, are globally portable and well-regarded by employers in Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE. A UK-based accounting degree combined with ACCA membership creates strong long-term career optionality.
• New Zealand: Accountants appear on the skilled occupation list and can qualify for state-nominated PR. Starting salaries of NZD 65,000–90,000 are competitive relative to NZ living costs. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) membership is the key professional credential.
• USA: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) qualification is respected globally. However, accounting is not a STEM subject in the USA, meaning standard OPT is limited to 12 months with no extension. The USA is less strategically advantageous for accounting graduates than Australia or New Zealand from a post-study work perspective.

MBA — The Best Choice for Career Switchers and Mid-Career Nepali Professionals

The MBA is not for everyone — and it is important to be honest about that. For a fresh graduate with no work experience, an MBA will deliver limited value. But for Nepalese professionals with 3–5 years of work experience who want to switch industries, accelerate into management, or launch a business abroad, a well-chosen MBA is one of the highest-ROI qualifications available.

The UK is the best value MBA destination in the world in 2026. One-year MBA programmes at UK universities — including several in the QS Global MBA Rankings — cost a fraction of their US equivalents and still deliver the full 2-year Graduate Route visa after graduation. A Nepalese professional who spends just one year in the UK, completes an MBA, and then spends two years working in the UK accumulates three years of high-quality international career experience in a total of three years away from home. That is an extraordinary return on a relatively modest investment.

For Nepalese students considering India as a destination, the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) represent a prestigious, affordable, and geographically convenient MBA option. An IIM degree is internationally recognised, opens doors across South Asia and the Gulf, and costs a fraction of a UK or USA MBA.

Country-by-Country MBA Breakdown

• United Kingdom: One-year MBA programmes at UK business schools (Warwick, Cranfield, Durham, Bath, etc.) combine global reputation with exceptional time efficiency. Tuition ranges from £18,000 to £45,000, followed by 2 years on the Graduate Route. The total UK commitment — 1 year study + 2 years work — is just 3 years from start to finish.
• India: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow are among Asia's most respected business schools. For Nepalese students, the cultural proximity, English-medium instruction, and significantly lower tuition fees make an IIM MBA an outstanding stepping stone — either to a career in India's booming corporate sector or as preparation for a postgraduate qualification abroad.
• USA: US MBA programmes (especially from top-25 business schools) offer extraordinary career outcomes and alumni networks. However, the 2-year programme cost can reach USD 100,000–150,000, visa interviews are increasingly competitive, and post-study work through OPT is just 12 months unless your MBA includes a STEM-designated concentration.
• Australia: Australian MBA programmes range from 1.5 to 2 years and are followed by the 485 post-study visa. Management Consultants and Business Analysts who graduate from Australian MBAs can qualify for state nomination PR. Several universities — including Melbourne Business School and AGSM at UNSW — have strong global reputations.
• New Zealand: A Masters of Business from New Zealand is a cost-effective and accessible option for Nepalese students seeking a management qualification with post-study work rights. The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington are the strongest choices for international recognition.